MerrieBeth Cox is 2012 Miss Indiana

ZIONSVILLE, IN.(WISH) - MerrieBeth Cox of Roselle, Illinois was crowned Miss Indiana 2012 Saturday night at the Zionsville High School Performing Arts Center in Zionsville, Indiana.

MerrieBeth previously held the title of Miss Duneland and was crowned in Michigan City.

She is 21 years old and student at Purdue University majoring in physical education.

MerrieBeth's talent is baton twirling and she won a preliminary talent award earlier in the week for her twirling and gymnastics routine to "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

Her platform is Overcoming Challenges.

MerrieBeth will represent Indiana at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas in January of 2013.

First runner-up to Miss Indiana was Miss Banks of the Wabash, Audra Casterline, 21, of Fishers, Indiana.

23 year old Mekayla Diehl, Miss Wabash Valley 23, of Bristol, Indiana was 2nd runner up. 

3rd runner-up was Miss Purdue University, Brittany Smith, 22, of Elmhurst, Illinois.

4th runner-up was Miss Metropolitan, Megan Thwaites, 20, of Garrett, Indiana.

Thirty-two young women between the ages of 17 and 24, from all over Indiana, competed this week in two preliminary nights of competition in talent, lifestyle and fitness in swimwear, evening wear and onstage question.

All had a ten-minute private interview with judges.

After the interview, 11  finalists were selected from the competition.